HALE'S ZEAL AS A SOLDIER
In the letter just quoted, Washington wrote further:
"Whither they [the enemy] are now bound,... I know not, but as New
York and Hudson's River are the most important objects they can
have in view ... therefore as soon as they embarked, I detached a
brigade of six regiments to that government and when they sailed
another brigade composed of the same number, and tomorrow another
brigade of five regiments will march. In a day or two more, I shall
follow myself, and be in New York ready to receive all but the
first."
Uncertain as to his power to hold New York, Washington promptly took the
next step that appeared open to him, carrying in his heart a heavy
weight of care, and realizing, as perhaps no other man did, that only
divine assistance could give him final success. He was bent upon a
desperate mission, but to it, with sublime patience, he gave every
energy of his masterly mind, and the entire consecration of all that he
possessed.
Well was it for him that the power which controls nations was quietly
working with him. Well, also, that in his army were men ready for any
enterprise of danger, for any sacrifice that duty might demand.
Washington proceeded to New York, to ultimate victory, to final and
permanent fame. Nathan Hale went also, simply as a captain of a
Connecticut company,--he not to victory, not to immediate fame, but to
something higher in one sense than either victory or fame, and to a
service well worth a man's doing.
Nathan Hale belonged to the first brigade dispatched to New York--that
of General Heath. After rapid marching, considering the state of the
roads, "Hale found himself" (March 26th) "for the third time" among his
New London friends. The next day they "embarked in high spirits on
fifteen transports and sailed for New York." On March 30th the troops
"disembarked at Turtle Bay, a convenient landing place" near what is now
East 45th Street. Not far from that spot, within six months, Nathan Hale
was to win a victory that time can never dim, even if, for a time, it
appeared to have covered his memory with a pall. But in that landing-day
no shadows were apparent,--only hope, and the zest inevitable in a
soldier's life.
A minor honor was soon to come to Nathan Hale. Late in 1775 Enoch Hale
was licensed to preach. In the summer of 1776 he attended Commencement
at New Haven, from July 23 to 26. He makes note in his diary of friends
and classmates whom he saw; also that he obtained the degree of Master
of Arts for Nathan and himself. Of the latter his record is, "Write to
brother to tell him I have got him his degree."
One or two more letters of Hale are extant from which only partial
extracts have been made. One that was written on the 3d of June, 1776,
we give with more fullness, omitting only some unimportant clauses. This
letter has especial value as an illustration of the fact that most of us
now and then have received letters that seemed casual in themselves, but
have, to our surprise and often to our deep sadness, proved to be
farewell letters.
It is not probable that, in the hurried days that followed, further
messages were sent to his grandmother, to his former pastor and
beloved teacher, Mr. Huntington, and to his sister Rose and her family.
In the late autumn of 1776, after they had learned his fate, and in the
years that followed, one can easily imagine how precious seemed these
appreciative words, embalming as it were the abiding affection of the
man who wrote them. Hale's reference to "the Doctor" also recalls the
fact that, from the immediate family of Deacon Richard Hale, five
men--three sons, one stepson, and one son-in-law (Surgeon Rose)--entered
the Revolutionary Army; one son dying in 1776, one son in 1784, his
health having been ruined while in the service, and one son in 1802, his
life perhaps shortened by his exposures. Whatever else may have been
lacking in that one family, patriotism certainly was not deficient,--the
patriotism that does not count the cost to one's self, but the gain to
one's country.
The following is the letter referred to, written to his brother Enoch:
DEAR BROTHER,
NEW YORK June 3d 1776
Your Favour of the 9th of May and another written at Norwich I have
received--the first mentioned one the 19th of May ult.
You complain of my neglecting you--It is not, I acknowledge, wholly
without reason--at the same time I am conscious to have written to
you more than once or twice within this half year. Perhaps my
letters have miscarried.
Continuance or removal here depends wholly upon the operations of
the war.
It gives pleasure to every friend of his country to observe the
health which prevails in our army. Dr. Eli (Surgeon of our Regt.)
told me a few days since, there was not a man in our Regt. but
might upon occasion go out with his Firelock. Much the same is said
of other Regiments.
The army is improving in discipline, and it is hoped will soon be
able to meet the enemy at any kind of play. My company which at
first was small, is now increased to eighty and there is a sergeant
recruiting who, I hope, has got the other ten which completes the
company. We are hardly able to judge as to the numbers the British
army for the Summer is to consist of--undoubtedly sufficient to
cause us too much bloodshed.
I had written you a complete letter in answer to your last, but
missed the opportunity of sending it.
This will find you in Coventry--if so remember me to all my
friends--particularly belonging to the Family. Forget not
frequently to visit and strongly to represent my duty to our good
Grandmother Strong. Has she not repeatedly favored us with her
tender, most important advice? The natural Tie is sufficient, but
increased by so much goodness, our gratitude cannot be too
sensible.
I always with respect remember Mr. Huntington and shall write to
him if time admits. Pay Mr. Wright a visit for me. Tell him Asher
is well--he has for some time lived with me as a waiter.... Asher
this moment told me that our brother Joseph Adams was here
yesterday to see me, when I happened to be out of the way. He is in
Col. Parson's Regt. I intend to see him to-day and if possible by
exchanging get him into my company.
Yours affectionately.
N. HALE.
P. S. Sister Rose talked of making me some Linen cloth similar to
Brown Holland for Summer wear. If she has made it, desire her to
keep it for me. My love to her, the Doctor, and little Joseph.
As Washington had supposed probable, the English decided upon the
occupation of New York. In July and August the largest army ever
collected in one body upon the American continent prior to 1861, an
English army numbering nearly thirty-two thousand men, with a formidable
fleet and large munitions of war, gathered at Staten Island. Washington,
in the meantime, was occupying a portion of Brooklyn and a portion of
the city of New York, fortifying each place and preparing to defend it
to the extent of his ability with his small army, never so well fed nor
so thoroughly disciplined as that of the British.
Human wisdom would have assumed that the British army would soon succeed
in restoring English control; but the best-laid plans miscarry, and a
power interposes that helps the weaker and hinders the stronger army.
The English did their best to be ready for the coming conflict, and we
know that Washington spared no pains in preparing for the worst that
might come.
On August 20, Nathan Hale wrote the following letter to his brother
Enoch--the last letter that he ever wrote, so far as we know, to reach
its destination. It shows that his heart was absorbed in the duties of
the conflict he was sharing, and it also shows how wholly he was
leaving the ultimate issue to a higher power.
NEW YORK, August 20, 1776.
DEAR BROTHER.
I have only time for a hasty letter. Our situation this fortnight
or more has been such as scarce to admit of writing. We have daily
expected an action--by which means, if any one was going and we had
letters written, orders were so strict for our tarrying in camp
that we could rarely get leave to go and deliver them. For about 6
or 8 days the enemy have been expected hourly, whenever the wind
and tide in the least favored. We keep a particular lookout for
them this morning. The place and manner of our attack time must
determine. The event we leave to Heaven. Thanks to God! We have had
time for completing our works and receiving our reinforcements. The
Militia of Connecticut ordered this way are mostly arrived. Col.
Ward's Regiment has got in. Troops from the southward are daily
coming. We hope under God to give account of the enemy whenever
they choose to make the last appeal.
Last Friday night, two of our fire vessels (a Sloop and Schooner)
made an attempt upon the shipping up the river. The night was too
dark, the wind too slack for the attempt. The Schooner which was
intended for one of the Ships had got by before she discovered
them; but as Providence would have it, she run athwart a
bomb-catch, which she quickly burned. The Sloop by the light of the
former discovered the _Ph[oe]nix_--but rather too late--however she
made shift to grapple her, but the wind not proving sufficient to
bring her close alongside, or drive the flames immediately on
board, the _Ph[oe]nix_ after much difficulty got her clear by
cutting her own rigging. Sergt. Fosdick, who commanded the above
sloop, and four of his hands were of my company, the remaining two
were of this Regt. The Genl. has been pleased to reward their
bravery with forty Dollars each, except the last man that quitted
the fire-sloop who had fifty. Those on board the Schooner received
the same.
I must write to some of my other brothers lest you should not be at
home. Remain
Your friend &c
BROTHER NA. HALE.
MR. ENOCH HALE.
Aside from this letter, the following brief quotations from his diary
are all that remain to us in the handwriting of Nathan Hale. Till he
lays down his pen for the last time we see him absorbed in the cares and
duties of the life about him, fearlessly facing whatever remains to him
of life and service.
Aug. 21st. Heavy storm at Night. Much and heavy Thunder. Capt. Van
Wyke, and a Lieut, and Ens. of Colo. McDougall's Regt. killed by a
Shock. Likewise one man in town, belonging to a Militia Regt. of
Connecticut. The Storm continued for two or three hours, for the
greatest part of which time [there] was a perpetual Lightning, and
the sharpest I ever knew.
22d. Thursday. The enemy landed some troops down at the Narrows on
Long Island.
23d. Friday. Enemy landed more troops--News that they had marched
up and taken Station near Flatbush, their advce Gds [advance
guards] being on this side near the Woods--that some of our
Rifle-men attacked and drove them back from their post, burnt 2
stacks of hay, and it was thought killed some of them--this about
12 O'clock at Night. Our troops attacked them at their station near
Flatb. [Flatbush], routed and drove them back 1-1/2 mile.
One of the facts most perplexing to General Washington was what appeared
to be Sir William Howe's delay in making an attack. Indeed, to an
outsider unfamiliar with military tactics, Howe's conduct resembles the
cruel pleasure a cat sometimes takes in tormenting a mouse that it knows
cannot escape. The uncertainty as to what the next British move might be
caused much anxiety. Remembering that Howe's force had arrived the last
of June, one sees how leisurely must have been his preparations for
attack, and how assured his hope of victory.
The expected attack occurred on August 27. The Americans were defeated
and driven within their works, their losses being great, especially in
prisoners. The Nineteenth Regiment was held in reserve, but Captain Hull
wrote that they were near enough to witness the carnage among their
fellow-soldiers.
The night after the battle the enemy encamped within a few hundred yards
of the defeated Americans. On the 29th Washington decided upon a retreat
to New York, and it was effected that night. If the English had
suspected that the Americans were withdrawing their forces from
Brooklyn, it is easy to imagine the carnage that would have ensued. So
great was Washington's anxiety at this time that he is said not to have
slept during forty-eight hours, and rarely to have dismounted from his
horse.
One account of the retreat is as follows: "A disadvantageous wind and
rain at first prevented the troops from embarking, and it was feared
that the retreat could not be effected that night. But about eleven
o'clock a favorable breeze sprung up, the tide turned in the right
direction, and about two o'clock in the morning, a thick fog arose which
hung over Long Island, while on the New York side it was clear. During
the night, the whole American army, nine thousand in number, Washington
embarking last of all, with all the artillery, such heavy ordnance as
was of any value, ammunition, provision, cattle, horses, carts, and
everything of importance, passed safely over.
"All this was effected without the knowledge of the British, although
the enemy were so nigh that they were heard at work with their pickaxes
and shovels. In half an hour after the lines were finally abandoned, the
fog cleared off and the enemy were seen taking possession of the
American works. One boat on the river, ... within reach of the enemy's
fire, was obliged to return; she had only three men in her, who had
loitered behind to plunder."
That opportune appearance of the fog must have seemed, to more than one
devout heart, as helpful as some of the remarkable interpositions of
Providence described in the old Biblical stories.
Hale's company, with its many seamen, rendered effective service in this
passage from Long Island. Every student of history, and especially of
military history, can recall certain decisive hours in momentous battles
when some utterly unforeseen event has entirely changed the face of
affairs, and given the victory into unexpected hands; thus, a mistake in
the understanding of a phrase used by his captors made Andre a prisoner,
and saved the capture of West Point by the English; while Waterloo,
Gettysburg, and many another decisive battle has hinged on seeming
chance,--chance truly, if there is no power working for righteousness
among the affairs of nations.
The position of the American army, however, now appeared more perilous
than ever. Two war vessels had moved up the East River and were followed
by others. Active movements among the British troops were reported by
all the scouts, but the enemy's designs could not be penetrated.